Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chief executive Ezra Chiloba has been appointed Director-General of Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) for a 4-year term.
According to CA, Chiloba’s appointment “follows a competitive recruitment process to fill the position which was left vacant after the retirement of former DG Francis Wangusi.”
Chiloba is a policy consultant and Principal Partner with Chil and Kemp consultancy and Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Law from the University of Nairobi, a Master of Arts degree from Central European University in Hungary and a Master of Science degree in Programme Management from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
He holds further training in Corporate Governance, Projects Management, Collaborate Leadership and in Monitoring and Evaluation.
Wangusi stepped down from the post at a time when his exit exposed a rot that had rocked the institution.
For example, on August 22, 2019, Wangusi vowed not to hand over the mantle to Mercy Wanjau who was appointed to succeed him in an interim capacity.
Speaking exclusively to the Star on phone, Wangusi said that the board rejected Wanjau’s appointment.
“It is sad that a few people with selfish interests are forcing a person to head such a vital government institution,” Wangusi said.
A day later, Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) Joe Mucheru told off Wangusi after he refused to resign.
Mucheru stated this after Wangusi insisted on staying on the job despite the authority’s board naming Ms. Wanjau as his replacement.
And five days later, Wangusi won some reprieve after a Nairobi court reinstated him amid a raging succession row at the regulator.
Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Byram Ongaya issued an order stopping the recruitment of the CA director-general’s successor following a petition by the Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) challenging the recruitment process.
“Having listened to the parties, I order that the status quo be maintained and any recruitment, selection or appointment of a new director-general of Communications Authority of Kenya is hereby suspended pending determination of the suit,” ruled Justice Ongaya.
His dramatic exit saw the regulator advertise a suitable Kenyan to replace him twice in eight months.
